No hydrofracking, yes parking

April 17, 2012

by Siobhan Gervasio

Two quality of life issues took center stage at Monday night’s Albany Common Council meeting – hyrdrofracking and parking.

Although the Council’s legislation to ban natural gas exploration within the city limits has been on the agenda before, this time the ordinance to limit natural gas extraction passed with 10 votes with only two members in opposition.

This was good news for Siobhan Burke, co-founder of Capital District Against Fracking. Burke has worked with her fellow anti-fracking supporters to keep the issue in the public eye and in front of the legislature.

Anti-fracking protesters outside City Hall before Monday night’s Common Council meeting

“We’re trying to raise the profile and make sure that the public is aware of the threat to their water and to their health,” said Burke.

Although her supporters have protested outside City Hall and have dominated the public comment period during council meetings, Burke believes the “yes” vote was the result of two recent state Supreme Court decisions in Tompkins and Otsego Counties, which upheld the rights of towns to ban fracking. There had been prior discussion within the Council that municipalities should defer to the Department of Environmental Conservation for matters such as hydrofracking.

“Those decisions were immensely helpful in turning around at least one common council member’s vote,” said Burke.

Ward 8 Common Council member John Rosenzweig originally voted against the legislation, but changed his vote to support the ban thanks in part, to the court decisions, but also because of his desire for the Council to move forward.

“I’m happy that it has been passed so we can start to focus more of our resources and time on other decisions like the budget,” said Rosenzweig.

The Council also approved a residential parking permit system that is designed to provide relief to city residents who routinely face an uphill battle when trying to find parking near their homes. This issue will undoubtedly be exacerbated by the State’s push to relocate 2,000 to 3,000 state workers to vacant downtown offices like the Alfred E. Smith building.

“It’s a big problem,” said Earl Belcher, vice-president of the Park South Neighborhood Association.

State Street – the Council is hoping new parking legislation will make it easier for city residents.

“You spend all this money on a home in Albany and then you can’t find any place to park,” said Belcher, who believes that in order to attract people to live in the city, you need to fix the parking situation.

Common Council President Pro Tempore, Richard Conti introduced the legislation which will establish three zones around the Empire State Plaza where permit-only parking would be in effect from Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Residents will be required to pay a $25 annual for the permit.

Although Rosenzweig voted in favor of the two-year pilot program, he has concerns about how it can be regulated and what its impact to area businesses will be.

“What will happen if people start squatting in their parking spaces? How will that affect businesses like the restaurants on Lark Street if no one can park?” said Rosenzweig.

For Rosenzweig it’s all about choice. “I understand that people would like the luxury of parking in front of their homes, but I would like the luxury of walking to a corner market or restaurant. Ultimately it’s making the decision about where you want to live,” said Rosenzweig. -30-